Mattress with diversified density

ABSTRACT

A mattress for human resting which is modular and is composed of parts made of different materials, determining a mattress density that is diversifiable according to individual requirements. The mattress is composed of a first structural part, constituting a containment element in which one or more longitudinal receptacles are formed. A second additional part is removably accommodatable in the one or more receptacles and is constituted by a mat made of synthetic or natural material determining overall variation in density or in selected points of the resting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Various kinds of mattress for human resting are known in thecurrent background art.

[0002] Such mattresses are made by using various known techniques; insome exclusively natural materials, for example wools, horsehair, etcetera, are used, while in some synthetic substances known to the personskilled in the art (for example foamed polyurethane or latex) are used,in others water is used.

[0003] Finally, a mixed solution with outer layers made of natural orsynthetic materials between which multiple elastic metallic springs areinterposed, also known as a “sandwich” configuration, is known.

[0004] Mattresses with a winter side constituted by wools and a summerside constituted by horsehair or other natural or synthetic materialsthat are more ventilated are also known.

[0005] All these known kinds of mattress are conceived so as to havepermanent characteristics: the same density of material and thereforethe same technical characteristics are in fact provided on the entireresting surface.

[0006] This leads to various drawbacks from the standpoint of practicaluse, since every person has different morphologic characteristics.

[0007] These drawbacks are particularly conspicuous in doublemattresses, in which the same density is provided on the entire surfaceof one side or the other and this technical characteristic makes themusually uncomfortable for one or the other of the persons who rest onthem.

[0008] The winter side is in fact often tolerated by some individualsbut not by others, and the same applies to the summer side.

[0009] Moreover, a mattress can be too rigid for one person or too softfor another person.

[0010] Such double mattress, moreover, cannot be divided in two in orderto expose the side that is most suited to both persons, and therefore acompromise is reached, requiring a variation in the number of blanketsused.

[0011] However, these solutions are partial and in any case do not allowgood resting and physical comfort.

[0012] Moreover, another drawback is noted which is linked to the sizeof single and double mattresses: they are in fact rather bulky anddifficult to handle, and this for example prevents daily airing of saidmattresses.

[0013] Accordingly, the qualitative technical performance options ofknown mattresses are limited only to two, i.e., to the number of restingsurfaces.

[0014] Therefore, if one person has particular requirements he or she isforced to use and store various kinds of mattress through the year,depending for example on the seasons or on particular physicalconditions.

[0015] This entails not only a waste of storage volume (which is verylimited in modern homes, which are not very spacious) and also a wasteof money, since said mattresses are left unused for most of the year.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentionedproblems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known art, by providinga mattress whose technical characteristics can be modified according tothe specific requirements of each individual user.

[0017] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide amattress whose characteristics can be modified rapidly and easily.

[0018] Another object is to provide a mattress that is constituted bysmall parts that are easy to store, replace and sanitize.

[0019] Another object is to provide a mattress that can be aired easily.

[0020] Another object is to provide a mattress that allows the consumerto change its characteristics at low costs.

[0021] Another object is to provide a mattress that allows to reduce thedisposal amounts of the product at the end of its life cycle.

[0022] Another object is to provide a mattress that is structurallysimple and has low manufacturing costs.

[0023] This aim and these and other objects that will become betterapparent hereinafter are achieved by a mattress with diversifieddensity, characterized in that it is modular and is constituted by atleast two or more mutually detachably associable parts, at least onefirst part forming a containment element that has one or morelongitudinal receptacles for at least one second part constituted by atleast one complementarily shaped mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention willbecome better apparent from the following detailed description of aparticular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitativeexample in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a single mattress with a resting surfacehaving two technical characteristics, with the cover off;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a double mattress with the cover off andwith a single element for containing two mats having differentcharacteristics with respect to the first part;

[0027]FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the single mattress ofFIG. 1;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the double mattress ofFIG. 2;

[0029]FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a single mattress, inwhich a through receptacle for a mat is provided in the containmentelement;

[0030]FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a double mattress withtwo mats whose thickness is equal to that of the containment element;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a single mattress (thereverse of the mattress of FIG. 3), which has a uniform resting surfaceon one side and a receptacle for a mat having diversified density andphysical performance on the other side;

[0032]FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a double mattress with aresting surface made of uniform material and, in the lower side, tworeceptacles for mats having different characteristics;

[0033]FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with the cover off, of a singlemattress constituted by a containment element in which the central partis recessed and suitable to form a containment receptacle for a mat thathas different characteristics with respect to the containment element.

[0034] In the examples of embodiment that follow, individualcharacteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually beinterchanged with other different characteristics that exist in otherexamples of embodiment.

[0035] It should also be noted that anything found to be already knownduring the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to bethe subject of a disclaimer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designatesa mattress which is constituted at least by a first structure part,designated by the reference numeral 2, which forms a containment elementmade of suitable materials of a known type, particularly syntheticmaterials or other, natural materials.

[0037] At least one longitudinal receptacle, designated by the referencenumeral 3, is formed at the containment element, and at least one secondadditional part, designated by the reference numeral 4, and constitutedby at least one complementarily shaped mat, is seated and accommodateddetachably therein.

[0038] The mat is made of various synthetic or natural materials thatare suitable for the purpose, such as wools, horsehair, alpine herbs,mountain pasture hay, et cetera and are adapted to determine overalldensity variation or density variation at selected points or regions ofthe resting surface.

[0039] The mat can be removed, replaced, aired and sanitized easily,indeed because of its reduced dimensions, which make it easy to handle.

[0040] Indeed because of this characteristic, it can be stored easilyeven in wardrobes, so that it is possible to store the various types,each composed of various materials that can be used in each instanceaccording to personal requirements.

[0041] This makes the mattress as a whole more versatile.

[0042] In this manner, with a single containment element it is possibleto have as many different solutions for the user's resting as there aretypes of mattress usable.

[0043] Clearly, the elements are appropriately covered individually withsuitable removable fabrics 6, and in both elements the containmentelement 2 and the mat 4 are assembled and contained by another outercovering removable fabric 7, which can be accessed by means of knownlateral zip fasteners.

[0044] The longitudinal receptacle 3 can be, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,such as to extend only partially into the thickness of the containmentelement 2; in this case, a perimetric containment border 5 is formed forthe mat 4, which is as high as the longitudinal receptacle 3 is deep.

[0045] The mattress 1 can also be of the double type: in this case, atthe containment element, again designated by the reference numeral 2,there are, at a same side, two longitudinal receptacles, designated bythe reference numerals 3 a and 3 b, in which it is possible to arrangedetachably mats which are shaped complementarily and are designated bythe reference numerals 4 a and 4 b.

[0046] The longitudinal receptacles can also be of a type different thanthat shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8, such as the through type, shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

[0047] In this case, the receptacle extends through the entire thicknessof the containment element 2 and, accordingly, the mat 4 or the mats 4 aand 4 b have the same height.

[0048] Clearly, it is possible to provide embodiments in which, as shownin FIGS. 7 and 8, the first part and therefore the containment element,designated by the reference numeral 102, is made of natural material,while the mats, designated by the reference numerals 104 and 104 a, 104b, are made of synthetic material arranged at the lower side 106 of thecontainment element and therefore at the side on which the body of theuser does not rest.

[0049] It has thus been found that the invention has achieved theintended aim and objects, a mattress having been obtained in which thecontainment element has a longitudinal receptacle formed preferably in arecessed central region that is adapted to receive various kinds ofinterchangeable mats, such containment element forming a supportingstructure, while the mat is of an easily replaceable, interchangeabletype, which is compact and in any case suitable to ensure restingquality.

[0050] Such mattress can be handled easily and therefore easily placedto air, and can be washed periodically, if allowed by the internalmaterial, in order to improve its hygiene.

[0051] The mattress thus provided can in turn be inspected with greatease in order to assess the efficiency of its various components,allowing their airing, or the replacement of the damaged parts.

[0052] Moreover, the mattress in the double version, together with theindividual mats, can be accommodated inside the containment fabrics orinside external covering fabrics, which have optional suitable zipfasteners that allow easy and immediate access thereto.

[0053] The removable and replaceable nature of the individual matsallows to choose to sleep according to two distinct or differenttechnical characteristics, which can be customized on each side of themattress simply by choosing the mat that has the intendedcharacteristic.

[0054] As an alternative, the double mattress can be constituted by twoseparate and individual mattresses, mutually coupled by way of knowncoupling means, or simply arranged side by side, and kept associated toeach other by means of an individual outer case.

[0055] Moreover, the dimensions of the mats allow their easy storageeven in conventional wardrobes, which have minimum depths of sixtycentimeters.

[0056] Therefore, the illustrated solution allows to provide a mattresswhose density and technical performance can even be different at theindividual surface or resting side, by way of the difference inconsistency between the containment element and the mats.

[0057] The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the same appendedclaims.

[0058] The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute theindividual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinentaccording to specific requirements.

[0059] The various means for performing certain different functions neednot certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can bepresent per se in many embodiments, including ones that are notillustrated.

[0060] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. UD2002A000008from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mattress with diversified density, which ismodular and is constituted by at least two mutually detachably,associable structural parts, with at least one first structural partforming a containment element that has at least one longitudinalreceptacle, and by at least one second additional part, constituted byat least one complementarily shaped mat.
 2. The mattress of claim 1,wherein said containment element is constituted by a supportingstructure that is shaped like a parallelepiped.
 3. The mattress of claim1, comprising two receptacles that are separate from each other.
 4. Themattress of claim 1, comprising at least two receptacles that areconnected to each other.
 5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said atleast one receptacle has a height such as to extend over at least partof a thickness of said containment element.
 6. The mattress of claim 5,comprising a plurality of receptacles which detachably accommodate atleast one mat.
 7. The mattress of claim 6, comprising a plurality ofmats which are arranged in configurations being any of one above theother and mutually side by side.
 8. The mattress of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one first structural part is constituted by at least twomodular elements, which are mutually composed and coupled.
 9. Themattress of claim 8, wherein said at least two modular elements arecontained within an external removable fabric.
 10. The mattressaccording to claim 8, wherein said at least two modular elements arecoupled by interlocking.